This weekend most of the world will celebrate the end of 2017 and welcome the beginning of 2018. Let’s all use some common sense to make sure we make it to 2019.

Year after year, some pretty dumb things occur on or around New Year’s Day as a result of people trying to have a good time, but going overboard and leaving common sense at home.

As a result many people get hurt or killed unnecessarily.

Drinking and driving awareness efforts have greatly reduced the number of alcohol-related vehicle fatalities each year. But still the practice continues and currently claims the lives of more than 10,000 people each year.

Last year, federal statistics indicate approximately one person was killed in an alcohol-related automobile crash every 50 minutes.

That’s a staggering amount, particularly given how easy it is to either let a designated driver take the keys or find a ride from another source.

Locally another completely inane practice also puts many people at risk. For many years, some residents fire guns into the sky as a way of celebrating the arrival of the New Year.

That may seem harmless until you realize that the bullets shot into the sky quickly fall back down to earth. Their trajectory can potentially strike people and property, causing damage or even death.

Let’s have fun this holiday weekend, but please use common sense and urge those around you to do the same so everyone can enjoy New Year’s Day without a tragedy.